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The Content of Older Adults’ Autobiographical Memories Predicts the Beneficial Outcomes of Reminiscence Group Participation

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Abstract

Much research has investigated the beneficial outcomes of reminiscence groups, like guided autobiography groups. Few have assessed whether the content of the autobiographical memories shared during these groups, however, predicts beneficial outcomes. This is the main goal of the current study. Sixteen participants responded to questionnaires about depression, death attitudes, and psychological well-being before and after an 8-week reminiscence group. Results indicated that group participation decreased depression, lowered fear and avoidance of death, and improved death acceptance. The 41 memory narratives collected from group participants were content analyzed for affective, cognitive, and sensory processes. Analyses revealed that memory content predicted levels of depression after group participation. Specifically, memories with more positive affective words (e.g., happy) predicted less depressive symptoms, and memories with negative cognitive process words (e.g., perhaps) predicted more depressive symptoms. The implications for remembering life events in old age are discussed.

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Acknowledgment

The work was partially supported by a Research Initiation Project grant awarded to Monika Ardelt, Department of Sociology, University of Florida.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago

    Nicole Alea

  2. Department of Human Services, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Stephanie C. Vick

  3. Greene Correctional Institution, Maury, NC, USA

    Alicia M. Hyatt

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  1. Nicole Alea
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  2. Stephanie C. Vick
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  3. Alicia M. Hyatt
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Correspondence to Nicole Alea.

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Alea, N., Vick, S.C. & Hyatt, A.M. The Content of Older Adults’ Autobiographical Memories Predicts the Beneficial Outcomes of Reminiscence Group Participation. J Adult Dev 17, 135–145 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-009-9079-6

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